HÉBERT, JOSEPH, grandson of Canada’s first settler, only son of Guillaume Hébert and Hélène Desportes; baptized at Quebec 3 Nov. 1636; d. 1661 or 1662.

Joseph Hébert’s father, the only son of Louis Hébert, died in 1639. On 12 Oct. 1660, Joseph married Marie-Charlotte de Poytiers. Not long afterwards he was captured by the Iroquois, perhaps by the same band who killed his cousin Nicolas Couillard and six other Frenchmen on the Île d’Orléans in June 1661. A letter written by a companion in captivity states that, wounded in the arm and shoulder, he was given to the Iroquois of Oneida. After the usual tortures, he was finally stabbed to death by drunken members of the tribe. His death was not definitely known in Quebec until the summer of 1662.

Meanwhile on 15 Oct. 1661 his wife had borne a son, Joseph. Since the records contain no further mention of this child, it is assumed that he died in infancy. In that case, Canada’s first settler has no direct descendants bearing the Hébert name. There were, however, other Héberts in the colony at an early date, who may have been related; for example, one Jacques Hébert signed the inventory of Jean Nicollet’s possessions on 7 Nov. 1642.

We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage. Nous reconnaissons l’appui du gouvernement du Canada par l’entremise du ministère du Patrimoine canadien.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Canadian Museum of History through the Online Works of Reference Program funded by the Government of Canada.Nous reconnaissons l'aide financière du Musée canadien de l'histoire à travers les œuvres du programme de référence en ligne financés par le gouvernement du Canada.